RALEIGH - United States Attorney George E.B. Holding announced that in federal court
here today United States District Judge Terrence W. Boyle sentenced RICARDO ARCE, 33, of
Rocky Mount, North Carolina, to 140 months’ imprisonment followed by three years supervised
release.

A Federal Grand Jury returned a Superseding Criminal
Indictment on May 28, 2008. On July 23, 2008, ARCE pled guilty to money laundering. On
September 5, 2008, a controlled transaction occurred, in which an undercover officer posing as a
drug trafficker entered El Mexiquense, located in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, and asked to
wire money to Atlanta, Georgia, without filling out the proper paperwork. The undercover officer
made it clear that he had drug proceeds he wanted to transfer to an account in Atlanta, Georgia. The
attendant in the store then contacted ARCE to arrange for the transaction. The following day, ARCE
instructed the undercover officer to deposit the money into ARCE’s business
account and then ARCE would transfer the money ($14,000) to a bank
account in Atlanta. On September 13, 2008, the undercover officer again contacted ARCE to
wire money ($14,300) through ARCE’s business.

This case is part of the investigation entitle Operation Trip
Wire.

Mr. Holding commented on the importance of this investigation:
“In order to obtain and fully eliminate drug trafficking
organizations, law enforcement must target all aspects of the
system that facilitates their crime. As such, investigators must
focus on those that help drug traffickers handle their many and
repatriate drug proceeds overseas. That is what this case was all
about.”

Investigation of the case was conducted by the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Lenoir
County Sheriff’s Office, and the Rocky Mount Police Department. Assistant United States Attorney
Michael G. James served as prosecutor for the government.

News releases are available on the U. S. Attorney’s web page at www.usdoj.gov/usao/nce
within 48 hours of release.

Help us combat the proliferation of sexual exploitation crimes against children.

Our nation-wide commitment to reducing gun crime in America.

Making sure that victims of federal crimes are treated with compassion, fairness and respect.